Toasting apparatus



` NOV. 17, lglf w H GlNDER ToAsTING l APPARATUS Filed June 4. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Naam E79 MSL w. H. GENDER TOASTING APPARATUS Filed' June 4. 1929 Patented Nov. 1'1',l 119,31

. UNITED STATI-:s

' PATENT f OFFICE WILLIAM H. enmEa, or nADDoNl-I'ELD, NEW JERSEY, AssrGNon ToELEcrno MANU- Ac'rUEmc conrANY or AmEEIcA, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNsYLvANrA, A com- PANY 0l' PENNSYLVANIA 'roAs'nNe APPAEATUs Application mea :me 4, 162s. serial no. sceau.

This invention relates to toasting appairatus and more particularly to automatic. electric toasters.

In an earlier invention exemplified by ap- -plication for Letters Patent #277 ,903, iiled `heated elements. The means disclosed, however, required rather' exact initial position.

ing of the sliced material in order to secure the desired result. This feature of the earlier,

' invention has been improved upon so that 4 of the construction with a consequent appreciable reduction in manufacturing costs.- In the earlier invention it was provided that the toasting operation be controlled by horbe inserted or removed without danger ofv ological means, but that the opening of the toaster might also be accomplished manually. This depended upon a redetermined condition of the timing mec anism before the manual meanswas operative. This feature of 'the invention has now been improved upon so that manual means may be used regardless of the condition of the timing mechanism. Y Among the objects of the invention, therefore, are: to im rove the construction of electric toasters w ereby a chea r construction cost is attained; to provi e a toasting apparatus in which slices of material can burns from contact with heated elements and without requiring exact initial location of the slice of material; to provide a toasting. apparatus which is automatically actuathe conventional guard strips are omitted with safety; to provide a toasting apparatus with any improved bread carrier; to provide a bread carrier for electric toasters which acts as a guard for the electric heating elements of the toaster; to provide in connection with Aa toaster having a pivoted side member, a bread carrier movable with the s1de member into toasting relation and out of toasting relation therewith; but susceptible to positioning in spaced relation to the slde member; to improve the construction of toasters whereby ledges and the like that might catch crumbs and hold same are eliminated; to provide in an automatic toaster .means whereby the bread can be instantly moved out' of toasting relation manually regardless of the condition of the timing mechanism when desired; and tmany other objects and advantages as will become more apparent as the description proceeds. Y

r In carrying'out the invention in the referred though purely illustrative form, t ere is provided ,a central heater, with a pair of pivoted side heaters movablel simultaneously into and out of toasting relation with the central heater, a bread carrier com rised of a frame with resilient free ended er's is pivotally mounted on each side member mechanically actuated means are provided for rmitting the members to move outwar ly on their'pivots in response to' the urge of a spring, an arm moved by themechanical means is pivoted relative the central heater, and a latch mounted on a side member can be manually actuated to engage or release from said arml according. to whether the toaster is to be mechanically or manually operated.- Itv is preferred also lthat thespring fingers of the bread carrier take the place of the conventional guard for the heat# ing surfaces-by having portions .extending from their plane into abutting relation to the heating surfaces.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of thisy specification:

Fig. 1 represents a transverse vertical section through the improved toaster of this invention with the parts in-their closely grouped association for the actual toasting operation.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary transverse section of one side of the toaster 'of this invention with the parts in partially spaced relation as the movable heating element is part way out from thecentral heating element subsequent to the toastingl operation.

Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the toaster according to this invention with the parts moved to their separated limit and with the toast or bread carrier disclosed in its spaced relation to each heating element for the safe insertion or removal of bread or toast without danger of burning the iingers.

Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section taken on line 4 4, of Fig. 1, to indicate the disposition and construction of the toast or bread carrier.

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary "end elevation of the device similar to Fig. 3, but in which the cam is so arranged as to prevent the automatic opening of the toaster, but with the movable member in spaced relation to-the central heating element as it is when the device is manually actuated.

Fig. 6 represents a fragmentary detail of the latch mechanism in its relation to the pivoted arm actuated by the cam.

The invention in its preferredform, as illustratively disclosed in the drawings, but which is obviously -susceptible to many changes and modifications, includes a base 1, end members 2 and 3 and a top plate 4, as a rigid and immovable frame work. Preferably an intermediate or central double faced heating element 5 is provided substantially perpendicular to the base, although vertically spaced thereabove. In the interests of economy the customary guard or spacing members usually provided to prevent contact of the toast with the heating member may be omitted in view of the construction of the bread carrier as will be further dcscribed. Mounted on horizontal axes, between the end plates are the side members respectively 6 and 7, as by means of ins 8 and 10 respectively passin spective end plates, and side member.

Each side member preferably comprises a heating surface, by the provision of a heating element 11 in spaced relation to the side wall of the member. It will be understood to be preferred that the side members move inwardly simultaneously toward the central heating member or element, for the simultaneous toasting of both sides of slices of material disposed between the respective heating surfaces. It is preferred that this be accomplished by some such means as is disclosed in the application aforesaid of which through t e reanges 16 on each the essential part, for the present purposesA at least, comprises a rotatable shaft 12, mounted on the end plate 3, and carrying a cam element 13, having an inwardly extending curved track or guide 14, at the mouth of a cam opening 15, and which cam element is arranged to be mechanically or otherwise rotated. In the application noted, the cam and shaft were arranged to rotate in one direction by manual means, and in the other direction by a clock spring. In any case it may be characterized as automatically actuated. In the aforesaid application one side member carried a rigid curved arm, the end of which rode the outer surface of the cam until the cam opening registered with the end of the arm, permitting the arm to move inwardly of the cam, and thus permitting the side member to swing outwardly on its horizontal axis by spring pressure applied to the member. This is'somewhat modified by the invention herein.

EachV pivoted side member 6 and 7 as noted has an inturned flange 16 with which the pivot pins engage. Side member 7 is attached to the inside of end plate 3, by a pin 10, which extends beyond the face'of the end plate or member 3. On the extended portion of the pin on the outside of the end plate 3, preferably, 'an arm 18 is`pivotally mounted. The lower portion of the arm has a curved end 20, arranged to ride upon the cam surface of the cam, and to enter the cam opening when the cam is properly disposed on its laxis to receive it. The arm 18 is preferably bent inwardly of the end plate 3 just above the pivot pin 10, so that its rear edge abuts the edge of the end plate 3 as a stop. The upper portion of the arm 18 is located in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of end plate 3 but inwardly thereof and has a sloping edge 21 leading to a vertical slot 22the end of the arm extending beyond the level of the sloping portion on the-other side of the slot, to form a stop 23. The upper portion of the arm carries at the edge toward the end plate 3, a ange or hook 24, arranged to engage a recess 25 in the flange 16 of the side member 7. By the arrangement so far described the arm 18 normally abuts the end plate 3, in which position it is held while the curved end 20 thereof engages the cam surface of cam 13, in which position it offers a keeper for engagement by the latch, to be described, so that the side member can be locked in closed position. If the arm 18 is moved upon its pivot 10, it may engage the side member and force it outwardly if a spring is not provided to urge it out, but it has' no direct engagement whereby it can force it inwardly as the cam is actuated. Such direct en agement is contemplated, however, as by t e mechanism now to be described.

A latch arm or latch 26, is pivoted to the face of the side member 7, behind the heating element, as at 27, and carries vthe insulated knob or handle 28, by means of which llO it may be actuated, and whichis of suflicient weight to cause it to drop downwardly by gravity. The flan 16 is cut away in horizontal ali ment w1th the-latch,but the upper portion t ereof, as at 30, acts as a stop to limit its downward movement. This stop p 30 is located just below-the edge of the sloping portion of the upper end of the arm 18, in the extended position of the side member 7. The arrangement is 'such that relative movement of the side member and arm toward each other causes the latch arm to ride up on the sloping portion, abut the higher portion or stop on the other side of the slot, then to dro into the slot to'positively lock the arm an side member to ether. v Release of the side member from .t e arm is quite simple and easy, requiring but a slight upward movement of the latch to effectI the desired result. In this manner,the manual operation of the toaster, and the insertion and removal of the bread or toast becomes a simple and easy matter when desired, as if, by chance, there should be any interruption of the operation fof the automatic mechanism,- the toaster would not thereby be placed out` of commission.' 4

In order to sim lify the construction and form the support or the toast out of Contact with the heating elements, a bread carrier'is provided of unique construction. This bread carrier 31 comprises a lower curved support or base 32 disposed horizontally and pivoted to the lower portion of the inside of the movable heating element, as by means of bracket arms 33 and `pins 34. The upper surface of the curved support is convex so that 'crumbs and the like falling down upon it find no rest` ing place. but slide ofi' onto the top of the base vmem er 1, from which they are readilyremoved. Arising from the" ,upper convexsurface, are a plurality, (preferablyfour, of.

spring arms 35, arrange in oppositely disposed pairs, such as to engagea slice of ma.

terial 4between each pair, each arm being rather resilient, and terminating at the upper free portion in oppositely extendingtlanges or angle elements 36. Each pair of spring fingers and the baseforms a slotted compart ment having an open mouth into which bread or the like may be inserted and which is limited in its downward movement bythe base, moreover each spring finger is arranged respectively -to abut portions of the adjacent heating elements, or their supports, out ofelectrical contact therewith, if the toaster be an electric one, and such as to maintaln a spaced relation of the sliceof material tothe heating surface. Thisis quite Veffective for 'the purpose and obviates the Anecesslty for the'provision of the usual guards and the like that have heretofore been considered a necessity for toasting devices. v Obviously, .such guards may` be applied Vif deslred for-.any mns Y i l the depending arm 37 when the side member 1s swung on its axis. In the preferred form of the invention as there will be one central heater and two pivoted or movable heaters, there will be two toasting spaces for simul taneously toasting both sides of two or more slices of material. In this case, there will be a similar bread or toast carrier on the other side of the central heating element as shown. In orderV to urge the two bread carriers apart, or rather away from the central heating element, a resilient device such as a spring 40 may be connected between the two depending arms 37 of the respective bread carrlers.

In operation it will be understood that with the side members moved to their widest outwardly spaced relation to the central heating element, the bread carriers will be disposed with their open mouths, evenly and` The side members are then caused to be,

moved toward the central heating surface, 1n a` manner to be described, during which movement the movable heating member approaches the relatively stationary bread carrier, until the tip ends, or flanges, of the outer resilient lingers are abutted by the side side member causes the bread carri-ier to swing upon its pivot on theside member,

until the inner resilient fingers contact,

ing surface.' With both heaters in contact member, continued inward movement of -the withv the adjacent spring fingers vof the bread carrier, the fingers may be flexed slightly upon thecompressible bread, with a resilient grip, holding it against movement during'the toasting operation which now ensues. Subsequent'to the toasting operation, and pursu- -abuts and is stopped by the inwardly projecting bracket on the end plate 2, when its outward movementlwith the side member terminates and the side-members respectively continue on to the outermost limits of -their movement. Any suitable means may be usedl to determine the extent of opening movelant to the outward movement of each side through their fianges, with the central heatment of each side member, such as stops 29.

' In order to cause the initial outward movement of the side members, and the synchronism of their movements, it is preferred that the flange 16 of the side member 7 be continued in an extension or arm 4l, below the pivot point of the member. A cross lilik 42 extends from this last mentioned arm 41, to the pivot point 43on the flange 16 of the oher side member 6, above its'pivotal connection to the end plate 3. The crosslink slides under the central heating element, and is so disposed that the side members swing on their pivots in synchronism.

In order to secure the outward movement of the side members, they are placed under resilient tension, as by means of a cross spring, or the like 44, connecting the two side members below their respective pivotal points or axes.

It vwill be understood that in the normal operation of the device', the latch is located in the slot 22, so that the arm 18 and side member 7 are locked together. In this position, rotation of the shaft l2 and cam element 13 causes the cam to change its position relative the curved en'd of the arm 2O although, owing to the tension on the side members from the spring 44, the curved end is maintained in contact with the cam. As the arm end rides into the cam opening during the rotation ofthe cam, the side members simultaneously begin to move outwardly7 away from the central section or heating element under the influence of the spring 44. In order to return the side member to close toasting association with the central heating element, rotation of the shaft and thus of the cam, forces the end of the arm out of the cam opening, swinging the arm about its pivot, and thus forcing the side heating elements in to toasting relation to the central heater.

If the cam opening is disposed so that the arm end may move into and out of the opening, then the latch arrangement may or may not be utilized, as the arm may be swung on its pivot by manual movement'of the handle or knob 28. If, however, the cam opening is out of registry, so that the arm is locked by the contact its end has with the solid portion of the cam, then the latch may be lifted to, release the side member from engagement with the arm 18, and the manual operation of the device may be resorted to, as will be (near. As noted, in this latter situation the arm 18 is held in retracted abutting relation to the end plate 3, and is locked therein by the engagement of its curved end on the surface of the cam, and thus forms a `cooperating element, or keeper for engagement with and disengagement from the latch on the side member.

Many modiiications may be resorted to as will be a parent to thoseskilled in the art,

such as t e change of'location or number of parts, as well as the use of other forms of heaters than electrical, but these changes and such others as may arise are to be construed as within the scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a toasting apparatus, a pair of relatively movable heating elements, mechanical means for effecting relative movements of the elements, the mechanical means including an arm removably engaging one of said elements, means for positively connecting the arm to the element, and said means operable `to disconnect the arm from said element for manually effecting relative movements of the said elements.

2. In a toasting apparatus, a stationary element, a movable element pivotally mounted relative the first element, an arm pivoted relative the stationary element and having a portion in position to abut the movable element. means for pivotally actuating the arm to move' the element, means for removably engaging the arm and movable element so that they move together as the movable element is moved.

3. In a toasting apparatus, a frame member, a side member pivoted to the frame on a horizontal axis, an arm pivoted to the'frame member and having a portion in position to abut the pivoted side member, mechanical means includingr a cam arranged to swing the arm and thus to swinglthe side member, a latch mounted on the side member and arranged to engage the arm to connect the arm spaced relation of the bread to the respective heating elements.l

5. In a toasting apparatus, a movable and a stationary heating element, a pivoted bread carrier mounted on one element and arranged to be engaged between the heating elements upon their relative movement in toasting re- Ylation thereto, and operable to support mate- 'rial inwider spaced relation to each heating element upon relative separating movement of the elements.

6. In a toasting apparatus, a bread carrier comprised of a convex base, Wire fingers mounted on the base and arranged in spaced pairs, the fingers having free ends, the ends being respectively oppositely iared to terial.

form a mouth for the reception of bread, the bread carrier arranged for abutting relation to a pair of-elements such that the flared ends' of the linger contact with the respective elements and maintain a predetermined spaced relation of the elements from the ma- 7. In a. toasting apparatus, a frame, a stationary heating element mounted on the frame, a side heating element pivoted to the frame, means for moving the side meinber on its pivot, a bread carrier pivoted ony the side member, resilient means urging the bread carrier toward the side member,

, and Vmeans 'limiting the outward movement of the bread carrier on its pivot as the side member moves outwardly onl its pivot to locate the'bread carrier in spaced relation to the side member and to the stationary heating element. Y

8. In a toasting apparatus a pair of re1a. tively movable heating elements, means urging the elements apart, mechanical means for urging the elements together, and means operable to disconnect the mechanical "means from the elements whereby the elements may be manually actuated. i

9. In al toasting apparatus, a central element and a pivoted side element, meansurging the side element outward from the central element on its fivot, latch means opere able to hold the si e m mber in lclose relai f tion to the central element against the urge of said first mentioned means. y

10. In a toasting apparatus, a frame including an end plate, a movable member pivoted to the end plate on one side thereof, an arm ivoted to the end late on the other side rom the member an having a portion extending transversely of the end plate, means on said portion for engagement with the movable niember, said arm having an end arran ed for operative association withthe rotata le element, a rotatable element associated with the end pla-te of .the frame for actuating thearm, means urging the movable member outwardly on its plvot, and means arranged for removably connecting the portion of the arm with the movable member whereby rotation of the rotatable element may. force 'said movable member inwardly l against the urge of the said urging means.

' 11. In an electric toaster, an electric heating element, and guard vmeans therefor, the

guard means comprised of a bread carrier i l ving resilient fingers including .stop portions and arranged to abut the element with the stop portions in engagement with the element, but `with the contents of 'the bread carrier in spaced relation to the element.

12. In a toasting apparatus, la pair of relatively movable membersone'of which is a heatlng element, a device for movin one member', means for actuating the evice,

latch means mounted on the device and said bers arranged for relative swlnging on a horizontal axis, a support disposed between the members on a horizontal axis,lmeans for relatively moving the members to form a predetermined angle therebetween, and means for swinging the support to a position spaced between the members but forming a smaller predetermined ang e.

Signed at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this first day of June, 1929;

WILLIAM H. GINDER.

angle with the res ective member than said 

